Carroll X. Skurzynski, a lifelong musician known by his stage name of Carroll Skinner and who accompanied Frank Sinatra Jr. on tour, died Monday at Gilchrist Hospice Center in Towson of complications from lung cancer. He was 68.

The Pikesville resident was an accomplished music arranger, pianist and accordionist who played with such headline acts as Sinatra, Bob Hope and Red Skelton in Las Vegas, Lake Tahoe and Reno in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

For nearly 30 years, he also taught instrumental music in Baltimore County public schools and played with the Zim Zemarel Orchestra, a local big band.

Mr. Skurzynski was born and raised in the Broadway neighborhood of East Baltimore near Fells Point. He started playing the accordion at the age of 9.

"Music was his life," said his sister, Patricia Skurzynski of Highlandtown. "While other boys were outside playing baseball and doing normal things kids who are 9 do, my brother was inside practicing."

By the time he was in high school, he had his own band and played accordion and saxophone with other groups in local nightclubs.

He graduated from Polytechnic Institute 1952 and soon after went to New York to play the accordion on an episode of television's Arthur Godfrey Show.

Mr. Skurzynski won a scholarship to the Peabody Conservatory, where he graduated with a degree in theory and education in 1960.

He was drafted into military service and spent two years in the 3rd Army Band at Ft. McPherson, Ga.

After his discharge, he drove cross country with childhood friend and fellow Peabody alumni Walter Borys to Los Angeles, where he quickly picked up work playing the accordion and keyboards. Mr. Skurzynski also studied with Nelson Riddle, Frank Sinatra's musical arranger.

"Musicians had the highest respect for him as a player and arranger," said Mr. Borys, who books musicians at the Mechanic Theatre. "He knew all the tunes. You couldn't stump him on songs."

Mr. Borys was his roommate in Los Angeles, continuing a strong friendship that included professional collaboration for more than 40 years.

"We were almost like brothers," Mr. Borys said. "He was very personable, friendly and loyal."

Mr. Borys was playing with Frank Sinatra Jr. when Mr. Skurzynski joined the band in the late 1960s and toured with the 17-piece group for three years, mostly in Las Vegas casinos.

Mr. Skurzynski enjoyed performing and often rubbed elbows with famous entertainers, but he didn't court celebrity, preferring instead to concentrate on the music. But that didn't mean he didn't have fun.

"He had a wicked sense of humor," said Ms. Skurzynski, who said it was natural, given that he traveled with so many comedians, such as Jimmy Durante and Don Rickles. She said her brother was particularly close to funnyman Jack E. Leonard.

After a decade out West, Mr. Skurzynski moved back to Baltimore in 1973.

"The road is hard for a musician; you're living out of a suitcase," his sister said. "He wanted to live in one place again."

He proceeded to become an ubiquitous Baltimore musical presence, playing piano for the Zim Zemarel Orchestra. Mr. Skurzynski appeared with several members of the band in a cameo in Baltimore native Barry Levinson's film, Avalon.

He performed at local hotspots, including the Main Stage nightclub at the Fishmarket -- now Port Discovery -- where he played with Peter Duchin's orchestra. He also played the piano at Haussner's restaurant in East Baltimore.

Among the musicians with whom Mr. Skurzynski collaborated was Hank Levy, who directed jazz studies at Towson University.

In 1992, Mr. Skurzynski married Ann Marie Martin, his second wife. She died two years ago. He was previously married in 1976 for a brief period.

Though he retired from teaching in the early 1990s, he never stopped being a musician, said his sister. Even at the end, she said, "He was still scoring in his mind."

A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated at 11 a.m. Thursday at St. Casimir Church, 2736 O'Donnell St.

Besides his sister, he is survived by cousins and aunts.

Donations may be made to American Cancer Society, 8219 Town Center Drive, Baltimore 21236.